25 Dec 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: abominable sins, awaken slumbering memories, celebrate, colourful explosions, dwelt among us, entrust yourself anew, eternal king, eternity, exalt your holy name, excitement, halfway home, hands on the plough, hope, incarnation of Christ, It's Christmas, light, looking forward, Lord and Saviour, LOVE, magnificent and magnanimous God, Merry Christmas, miracle birth, not looking back, of joy, open your heart, our benefit, politically correct, push away tears, rejoice, sacrificial lamb, Scrip-Bit family, shekinah glory, sing, smile away fears, swaddling clothes, take away all our sins, the breath of life, the empty tomb, the LOVE of Jesus, the splintered cross, the word was made flesh, to a glorious future with Jesus, true beleivers, trust, Wednesday Wail
John 1:14. And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
MERRY CHRISTMAS !
Merry Christmas all you beautiful Scrip-Bit friends and family! We’re rolling out a tad late, due to a small family gathering that began late and continued into the wee hours of the morning. (smile) But the good thing is that we’re rolling out, hale and hearty and giving thanks to our magnificent and magnanimous God who LOVED us so many, that He gave us the greatest gift that He, even as the Almighty Lord of the universe could ever give: His wonderful Son Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb to take away all our sins!
And all God’s children declared a loud and grateful: ‘Thank You Lord! Thank You ever so much for sending Jesus to us this day so long ago as a babe in swaddling clothes, so that He could grow amongst us to eventually be our Lord and Saviour and Eternal King! We give You everlasting thanks and praise for that gift; the greatest gift this sinful and evil world has ever seen. Lord we LOVE You and praise, glorify and exalt Your holy name!’
Mama Mia! The ole fella’s on a roll this Christmas morning mih people! (smile) But even better still, let’s get into the poem for Christmas Day from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings from Ruth Harms Calkin, appropriately titled: ‘ITS CHRISTMAS!’
Please pray with me: ‘It’s Christmas! Sing! Rejoice! Celebrate! Let God create in you Colourful explosions Of joy and excitement. Smile away fears, push away tears. Out with pretense, in with praise. It’s Christmas! Open your heart to light To trust, to LOVE, to hope. Awaken slumbering memories Stir up stupendous dreams Anticipate surprises Open your arms wide.
It’s Christmas! Time for candles and cards For carols and cookies For brightly lit trees With the fragrance of pine. Time to hug and hold To think and thank Time to greet the world with the Good News. It’s Christmas! Thank God for life Thank Him for the manger For the splintered cross For the empty tomb Thank Him for His holy Son The Saviour of the world. Shout! Laugh! Share! Care! And say to God On Christmas morning: “I entrust myself anew To You.”
Oh friends, what beautiful sentiments for this Christmas Day and Season, and even for all year round! As true believers we really should be doing those things year round, because we have them all year to be thankful for. But today though, let’s do as the poem says nuh; let’s entrust our lives, our hearts, bodies and souls and minds anew to God nuh. It’s such a wonderful thing to do. And though the Lord will greatly appreciate it, please be aware that dealing with God is ALWAYS for our benefit!
Let’s remember that today nuh, as we celebrate Christ’s incarnate birth, as we sincerely and seriously ponder on all it means to sinful and evil man. And please, please, don’t let the day be all about gifts and eating and drinking and partying, but let’s find, no let’s MAKE some time to include Jesus in our thoughts, words and deeds today, because remember, He is the reason for the season! That’s why I can’t fathom all the nonsense about ‘Happy Holidays’ etc. etc. If you took Jesus out of the equation, there’d be no blooming holidays!
I’m simply tired with all the nonsense about being politically correct. Don’t other faiths say things like ‘Happy Hanukkah! Happy Eid,’ and all the other rest? So why can’t Christians say ‘Happy Christmas’ without it offending other faiths eh? Don’t they think that we Christians get offended too when we hear other faiths declaring (steups!) their holidays without a blush or fear? Chuh man!! It seems like it’s only Christians who are required to give up their stuff. But we won’t get into that political minefield today. (smile) We’ll keep it light and lovely!
And the Bible verse of promise for our poem is also our Bit today; the momentous words of John! ‘And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ Yes friends, God Himself, fashioned as a man came, down from heaven to dwell with us, to give us a more intimate and close up look at who He was, and how He wanted to interact with us.
And the scholars explain that verse thus: ‘1:14. Made flesh indicates the incarnation (miracle birth) of God the Son. The use of ‘flesh’ contradicts the Gnostic heresy that God could not be united with human flesh, which was seen as evil. Dwelt among us: John used the word for ‘tabernacled,” here translated as “dwelt.” The Old Testament tabernacle was where God dwelt among the Jews in the wilderness. In this context, God is dwelling in the person of Jesus Christ. We beheld his glory: Perhaps John refers to the shekinah glory which appeared in the tabernacle of the Old Testament. The expression signifies the visible manifestation of God. John later uses ‘glory’ to refer to Jesus’ life (2:11), death and resurrection (12.23).’
Ah mih people, without a doubt, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did come to earth and dwell with His human subjects as one of them, but still completely sinless, because that was the only way He could pay for our abominable sins. And please remember friends that Jesus will be coming a second time, as portrayed by John in his revelations; then riding on a white horse called ‘Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war… and his name is called The Word of God.’ (Rev.19:11c, 13b)
Yes fellow believers, when Jesus comes again, He will be coming in victory, to take His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The first time He came at Christmas, it was to reveal the LOVE and grace of God, the next time will be to reveal His holiness, justice and judgement. Let’s remember that and continue living the faithful obedient life, as we expound in our Wednesday Wail.
‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Please have a blessed and joyful Christmas Day my people, being assured that our faith In Jesus Christ will be greatly rewarded in His time! Much LOVE!
…only the LOVE of Jesus…will see us safely through to eternity…
18 Dec 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: casts the wicked to the ground, causeth the grass to grow, crapaud smoke we pipe, encyclopedia for living, fools despise wisdom, for the service of man, full of thy riches, get understanding, glorious future with Jesus, God's Word, halfway home, hands on the plough, he watereth the hills, herb, hoar frost, how manifold are thy works, infinite, lifteth up the meek, live by bread alone, LOVE, loving kindness, mercy, not looking back, sendeth out his word, snow like wool, spectre of winter, stand before his cold, tender care, thank God, the beginning of knowledge, the breath of life, the earth is satisfied, the fear of the Lord, the fruit of thy works, the Good Book, the principal thing, understanding, upper chambers, Wednesday Wail, wisdom
Psalm 104:13. He watereth the hills from his (upper) chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
Well, I guess we can handle a li’l white amongst the dark and dreary grey of most of these winter days. Note, just a li’l snow like we got last night. And with the bright sunshine we also blessedly have, it just lifts up the whole spectre of winter. (smile) Yeh friends, you’d be surprised at how a li’l snow and some sunshine can brighten up your winter days. And I just looked to see where the Good Book had opened at this morning, and behold it was opened unto a most appropriate scripture, Psalm 104 – God’s preservation of nature.
And I read these wonderful words: ‘He watereth the hills from his (upper) chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.’ And isn’t that the gospel truth friends? Our great God looks after the universe, the nature He created with the LOVE and tender care of an expert, as well as a compassionate gardener. Hear how the psalmist describes it nuh: ‘He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: (sorry, not the herb you’re thinking about, but vegetation (smile) that he may bring forth food out of the earth. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.’ (Ps. 104:14-15)
And who says that God doesn’t have man’s best interest at heart eh? No wonder the psalmist could later on proclaim: ‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches (possessions).’ (Ps. 104:24) And if you didn’t believe the last psalmist, then listen to this one, as he proclaims the greatness of our God and His amazing power, His omnipotence! ‘Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked to the ground.
Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp to our God. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy (LOVING-kindness).’ (Ps. 147:5-11)
Yuh see that mih people? The Lord likes all that He’s made and expertly services them, but His first LOVE is those who seek Him, revere Him and put their sincere trust in His awesome power and mercy! Can we count ourselves amongst that blessed lot? I certainly hope so, for all of our sakes, otherwise crapaud certainly smoke we pipe! Now this bit of the psalm is for those of us who live in the wintry climes. (smile) ‘He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels (fragments of food): who can stand before his cold?’ (Ps. 147:16-17)
And as always friends, the sad answer to that last question is ‘NOBODY!’ That’s simply because the created can never hope to stand before the awesome might of their Creator. That’s a lesson the foolish Lucifer never learned, to his sad demise, and too many of us are following in his stupid footsteps. But hear how the Lord melts the ice and connects to all that are in his fold. ‘He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters to flow. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgements unto Israel.’ (Ps. 147:18-19)
Ah friends, the Word of the Lord is the encyclopedia for living! Knowing it and living it brings success. The opposite brings only failure. And Cousin Sol in his finite wisdom confirms it. ‘The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths (deeps) are broken up, and the clouds drop down dew. My son, let them not depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace (favour) unto thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.’ (Prov. 3:19-24)
Yes friends, wisdom is indeed the essence to this life. And is that possibly why so many of us don’t have sweet sleep at nights? As the scholars say: 3:19-20. Wisdom is so important that God Himself used it in creating the world.’ So if God used it to create us, the universe and all therein, who are we to do otherwise eh? But it’s all a cosmic cycle friends (smile) As Cousin Sol wisely advises: ‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.’ (Prov. 4:7)
But then we ask, where can wisdom be found? Cousin Sol also provides the answer. ‘The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (Prov. 1:7) That says it all friends: We need wisdom to live this life successfully, but to get it, we need to begin by revering our Creator, who made us through wisdom, and keeps us going by the same. Ah mih people, why can’t we see that it all begins and ends with our omnipotent God eh?
Now for those of us who have gotten the picture, the truth, let’s declare (yeah!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our secure position in Christ. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Ah friends, we’ll never know just how glorious that future will be nuh until we experience it! Much LOVE!
…man cannot live by bread alone…but by the wisdom of God’s Word…
11 Dec 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, all about the money, blase, blatant, corruption, deliverance, depravity, don't give up, eyes fixed straight ahead, feelings of greed, frame of mind, glad to be alive, halfway home, hands on the plough, highly contagious, hopeful prayer, knowledge, not looking back, not turning back, please hang in there, said in his heart, seek God, snow, spawn, thank God, the atheist, the breath of life, the children of men, the fool, the human race, the Lord looked down, the opportunity, there is no god, to get wealth, unbelievably foolish, understand, wanty wanty nuh get it, Wednesday Wail, workers of iniquity
Psalm 14:1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable iniquity (works): there is none that doeth good.
Oh my people, let me begin by apologizing for the lateness of the Bit. But I was really abed rather late this morning and thus my rising was also rather late. The devil got in my spirit! Chuh! I looked at the clock and thought I saw eight, but it was really nine. (smile) And to upset the apple cart even further, remember yesterday I spoke about missing seeing the snow on the housetops? Well who says there isn’t a dusting of snow on the housetops and the ground this Wednesday morning eh!
As the ole people would warn, be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it, but then realize it’s not what you really wanted. And I guess that can be a warning for many of us this Christmas season, where we tend to desire so much stuff, half of which we don’t really need, but the season just seems to spawn our feelings of want and greed. Remember too, the old Jamaican saying: ‘wanty wanty nuh get it.’ (smile) I guess the ole fella is in an ole people frame of mind this morning. (smile)
And keeping all that stuff in mind, the Lord has led me to this rather potent scripture for us to check out this morning; something dealing with the foolishness of men. Oh my people, has mankind ever gotten unbelievably foolish in these trying times! It seems like the more worldly knowledge he acquires, the more foolish he becomes. Listen to Bruh David’s opening statement in his contemplation on the subject. ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable iniquity (works): there is none that doeth good.’
And if Bruh David thought that things were bad in his time, he should see them now. He would hold his head and bawl like crazy, such is the ungodliness and sinfulness of man. As I said earlier, it seems like the more prosperous and knowledgeable the Lord allows him to become, the more evil and ungodly he becomes. Yeah, because he thinks that all that increase is his doing. How foolish and short sighted can we be eh my people? How can we ever forget that it’s the Lord God Almighty who created us in the first place and now allows us the opportunity to get wealth and knowledge?
As Bruh David continues: ‘The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God.’ (Ps.14:2) Oh friends, don’t you think the Lord is doing the same thing today? Most definitely! And what do you think He’s finding eh? The very same thing Bruh David found in his time; a whole set of ungodliness and unrighteousness, and in greater numbers too. ‘They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy (corrupt): there is none that doeth good, no not one.’ (Ps. 14:3)
And you don’t have to be a seer, or overflowing with wisdom to know and see the indescribable level of corruption that’s present in our current world. And what makes it even worse, is the blatant, blase, don’t care, ‘unfearing’ way in which it’s been promoted and promulgated! The question God asked through Bruh David back then is also very apropos to our time. ‘Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.’ (Ps. 14:4) Oh my faithful brethren, I guess the answer to that is a loud ‘NO!’
Now check out this info from the scholars. ‘Psalm 14. This psalm could be dedicated to the atheist. With the denial of God’s existence comes the moral decay described in verses 1-6, and which was used by Paul to prove the universal depravity of the human race (Rom. 3:10-12). While the fool may deny that God is, the righteous finds in Him the object of hopeful prayer for deliverance (vs.7).’ And I had to chuckle when I read about the psalm being a possible dedication to the atheist.
And yuh wouldn’t believe how bold face the atheist and them could be nuh? Recently I heard something about them fighting to be called a church! Steups! If you don’t believe in the existence of any god, how can you have a church eh? But it seems like what they really want is the ability to become a non-profit or charitable organization, so they can reap the tax and other monetary benefits. As usual; it’s all about the money!
And I don’t know why, but the same psalm is also found in the Psalter as Psalm 53. According to the scholars, it’s been slightly revised. ‘Two major differences are apparent: this psalm (53) substitutes the generic word for God, Elohim, for the personal name of God used in Psalm 14, Yahweh. This was done evidently to give the psalm a wider appeal. Second, verse 5 has been rewritten and has become an encouraging affirmation of God’s protection.’
So let’s hear it nuh: ‘There they were in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.’ (Ps. 53:5) Oh my fellow believers, our great, powerful and ever-faithful God will do the same thing for us, because He still despises the workers of iniquity and has promised to eradicate them and send them into the realms of eternal darkness, just in His own time. So please hang in there and don’t give up!
Now let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail letting the heathen, the atheist, the workers of iniquity know right well our strong and potent position in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And please be reassured that if we keep that up, we will be rewarded with a future so glorious that our puny, finite minds won’t be able to comprehend it. (smile) That’s how great and wonderful our God is! Much LOVE!
…foolishness is highly contagious…so please stay away from it…
20 Nov 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, acknowledge God's power, Advocate, amazing strenght, art a shield for me, be joyful in thee, belief, Christ is the one, christ jesus, compassion, did not sin, Enabler, eyes fixed straight ahead, faith, faithfulness, faults, favour, foibles, goodness, grace, grin and bear it, Guide, hands on the plough, help us do all things, high priest, in our own strength, invest, leader, looking forward to, mercy, motives of our hearts, my glory, my heart trusted in him, not looking back, our everything, our wants satisfied, outward actions, perilous times, Scrip-Bit Friends, shout for joy, steadfast and true, step out of, surrender, take a radical step, tender mercies, thank God, the breaht of life, the lifter up of my head, the seven seals, thou O Lord, Wednesday Wail, worthy to open, your comfort zone
Psalm 3:3. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) mine head.
Top o’ the day my Scrip-Bit friends and family! Sorry, but it looks like another wet and cloudy day in my area. Chuh! That’s three in a row! But what to do eh? Not much but grin and bear it and open our hearts, minds, bodies and souls even more to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, because He is the One who can help us do all things through His amazing strength and goodness, mercy, grace and compassion! Glory be mih people! How blessed we are to have such a wonderful Leader, Guide and Enabler!
And all God’s people declared in a loud and grateful voice: ‘Bless His holy name! Bless the Lamb that was slain for us; our High Priest and Advocate at the Father’s right hand, who understands our problems because He faced them too, but yet did not sin. Consequently, the only one found worthy to open the seven seals!’ Yes friends, whatever we need, we can find it in Jesus…our EVERYTHING!
And as Bruh David so rightly declared long ago in Psalm 3 – his prayer of confidence in God: ‘Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) mine head.’ (Ps. 3:2-3) Ah mih breddren, today the infidel is still doubting the power and LOVE of our great God, but ever so wisely, we are still rocking and rolling in His utmost faithfulness and tender mercies for those who come sincerely seeking Him!
Bruh David in his day had numerous problems and enemies, but he was able to confront them all because of his amazing trust in the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And regardless of why he was crying out to God, he always made sure to declare his ultimate trust in God. For example, in Psalm 28 – a prayer for God’s help, he confidently proclaims: ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.’ (Ps.28:7)
And I’m sadly chuckling here, because in these troubled and perilous times, I don’t think many of us take the time to acknowledge God’s power and majesty when we cry out to Him for help, we just want His help immediately. But the Lord likes it when, even in rough times, we take a moment to sincerely acknowledge His might and power, because then we truly show our trust in His everlasting faithfulness and LOVE, we’re not just out to get our wants satisfied. Remember, the true motives of our hearts are more important to God, than our outward actions.
Now hear the kind of absolute declaration we can make when that absolute trust in our God permeates our entire being: ‘I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill (mountain). Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.’ (Ps.3:4-6) Oh my fellow believers, if we put our whole faith and trust in the Lord God of Israel, it’s the same way He will sustain us when we cry out to Him, because that’s His faithful promise.
As I keep saying, despite all Bruh David’s faults and foibles, he knew on which side his bread was buttered, and the Lord certainly rewarded him for that sincere trust. And He will do the same for us if we come to Him in all sincerity? But unfortunately, too many of us supposed believers don’t put our whole and absolute faith and trust in Christ Jesus, we still try to do too much in our own strength, that’s why our lives are not as steady and forthright as they ought to be. And yes, I know that putting our last ounce of faith in Christ can sometimes be difficult, but that’s what faith is all about, and you won’t grow or learn until you step out of your comfort zone and take a radical step towards Him.
Oh, believe me, I can only spout this stuff because I’ve learned from personal experience, and hard personal experience too…and I’m still learning…from hard experience, because it’s a process. God is working a work of faith and trust in us, so that hopefully, everyday we can become more like His Son. That’s the long term plan. And remember His Son did not have it easy here on earth, so we should not complain if we occasionally have it rough.
Thus, we need to believe like Bruh David prayed: ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:11-12) Ah friends, what a great God we serve and worship, but we can’t get ALL the benefits available unless we invest ALL the trust! It’s as simple as that.
Now for those of us who are sincerely trying to do that, let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know our solid and uncompromising position in Christ. As one sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if you stand steadfast and true, that future will be even more glorious than you can ever imagine! Much LOVE!
…it’s all about…trust…surrender…and belief…in Christ Jesus…
06 Nov 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, an unholy stink, arise, bear witness, became flesh, begotten f the Father, born not of blood, calves of the stall, can't help rejoicing, children of God, darkness, Daylight Savings Time, eyes fixed straight ahead, fat like stall fed calves, fear my name, figurative description of Christ, foraging for food, forerunner of the Messiah, grow fat, halfway home, have seen a great light, healing in his wings, in the world, Jehovah's plan, John the Baptist, light, like stall fed calves, LOVE, messianic deliverance, more than we can ask or imagine, not looking back, sleep patterns, thank God, the beauty of the situation, the breath of life, the darkness of sin, the light of God's love, the Messiah, the Sun of righteousness, the will of man, the will of the flesh, the Word, the world knew him not, walked in darkness, Wednesday Wail, ye shall go forth
Malachi 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (grow fat like stall fed calves).
It’s sunshine…It’s sunshine…! Yes friends and Scrip-Bit family, the sun’s shining high and bright in a clear blue sky at 8 o’clock this Wednesday morning! Glory be! And I guess it’s already so high because of the Daylight Saving’s Time change we had over the weekend, where the clocks were rolled back one hour. I don’t know why they don’t stop the foolishness nuh, because nobody likes it. There are always complaints, especially about screwed up sleep patterns, and you have to readjust all your time situations. And I really don’t know who it benefits either nuh.
Now we’re five hours behind Europe, when last week we were four; possibly the same time as Trinidad and Tobago now, but and hour or something behind Jamaica… It just screws up everything, even between the provinces of Canada! What’s wrong with staying with ONE time eh? Not many other countries engage in the nonsense. But unless we make an unholy stink about it, the powers that be won’t see fit to change it.
However, the beauty of the situation is that whatever time line we use, or whatever the weather might be, we still have the awesome presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour constantly dwelling within us through the auspices of the Holy Ghost! And all God’s children declared a loud and grateful ‘Wow!’
Yeh friends, when we consider how marvellous that situation is, the only word that can sometimes come to mind is ‘Wow!’ That’s because its ‘marvellousness’ transcends the capacity of our mortal minds. (smile) But it all ties in miraculously with Jehovah’s plan for His people; re His Messiah, His Saviour coming to save them from eternal damnation. Hear how the prophet Malachi puts it: ‘But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall (grow fat like stall fed calves).’ Oh my people, no uncertain foraging for food for the Lord’s people because ‘the Sun of righteousness,’ the figurative description of Jesus Christ, our Messiah shall come and heal and feed and comfort us. Glory Hallelujah!
And that promise wasn’t new to the Israelites at that time, because Isaiah had already promised long before: ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.’ (Is. 9:2) And that prophecy was built upon by John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, when he declared at John’s birth: ‘And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission (forgiveness) of their sins. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring (Dawn, Messiah) from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 2:76-79).
And the scholars explain that passage thus: ‘1:78. Dayspring means “dawn” and figuratively refers to the coming of the Messiah. The clause should be translated, “Dawn from heaven will visit us.” That is, the Messiah from heaven will come to help us. God’s messianic deliverance is often expressed as the bursting forth of a great light.’ And so it should be because it brought out us of the darkness of sin into the light of God’s LOVE! And what I admire about God’s Word is that He left no empty spaces in it, meaning that each prophecy was rolled right into another one that led the story forth.
For just as Zechariah prophesied that his son, John the Baptist would be a forerunner of the Messiah, the Good Book tells us: ‘In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Matt. 3:1-3) So even Isaiah had prophesied about John’s role in the coming of Jesus. (Is .40:3)
And it was all corroborated in John the disciple’s gospel: ‘There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (the Baptist). The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power (the right) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name. which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made (became) flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:6-14)
Oh my people, what a life-saving and light emitting event the coming of Jesus was! It made God’s salvation universally available to all who believed in His Son, Jesus Christ. Gave them the authority to become children of God! Glory Hallelujah! The sad part though is that people in general, and in particular, His own people, the Jews, rejected him. But mih bredden, yuh see the Lord’s faithfulness. After promising the Messiah, the Saviour of His people, down through the ages, He finally fulfilled it by the coming of Jesus! Please let us never deny His everlasting faithfulness, or that of the Good Book, His Holy Word. It will just happen in His own time.
And for all of us who have accepted the Light of the World as our own, let’s go home telling all and sundry our wonderful position in His marvellous union. As one now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ And as always, we can’t help rejoicing when we consider how truly great and glorious that future will be…more than we can ask or ever imagine! Much LOVE!
…the light shines in the darkness…and the darkness repels it not…
23 Oct 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a legitimate cry, a secret Christian, an errand boy, and a hard place, be not far from me, between a rock, breath of life, confess me before men, continue steadfastly, deny me before men, develops endurance, eyes fixed straight ahead, from the lion's mouth, gald to be alive, halfway home, hands on the plough, haste to help me, hedged in on every side, hurry a little, I am your child, if you love Jesus, kicking and screaming, LOVE, not ashamed, not confounded, not looking back, O Lord my strength, Ruth Harms Calkin, save me, shout it from the moutaintops, snap of my finger, sovereign God, strengthens my faith, the One Year Book of Bible Promises, the praises of Israel, trusted in thee, wait patiently, waiting, Wednesday Wail, you delivered them
Psalm 22:19. But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
Well it looks like it’s going to be a sunshiny day! Thank the Lord for that, as well as for life and LOVE in this crazy, disturbed world. Oh, and we must also thank the Lord for a new desktop computer, no more fighting to get the old one logged in. But I can’t really complain too much, because ole trusty gave me yeoman service over the more than ten years I used it. But I guess it’s time to move on now, move from the 18th to the 21st century. But I’m not going easily; I’m kicking and screaming in opposition! (smile)
And in keeping with our theme yesterday of waiting on God’s timing, here is this somewhat contradictory poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises, with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. It’s appropriately titled: ‘Could You Hurry A Little?’ Please pray with me: ‘Lord, I know there are countless times When I must wait patiently for You. Waiting develops endurance. It strengthens my faith And deepens my dependence on You. I know You are Sovereign God – Not an errand boy Responding to the snap of my finger. I know Your timing is neatly wrapped In Your incomparable wisdom. But, Lord You have appointed prayer To obtain answers! Even David the Psalmist cried With confident boldness: “It is time, O Lord, for you to act.” God, on this silent sunless morning when I am hedged in on every side I too cry boldly. You are my Father, and I am Your child. So, Lord, could You hurry a little?’
Ah friends, that’s what most of us would like the Lord to do in the trying situations of our lives. But as the poet said, the Lord’s not our errand boy to jump to our rescue when we snap our fingers. He is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe and our times are in His hands, we must wait until He is ready to move. And yes, that’s often difficult to do when we are facing danger or serious life problems. But then again, as the poet says, the Lord has given us prayer so we can get answers, so there’s nothing wrong in crying out to Him for help, like Bruh David so often did.
And today’s Bit is the Bible promise for our poem, taken from Psalm 22 – Bruh David’s cry of anguish and song of praise. ‘But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me.’ It’s a very legitimate cry, and many times, when the Lord thinks it’s necessary, He will jump right in and help us. But at other times, in His incomparable wisdom, He allows us to go through some stuff, oftentimes to test us, or to build our faith, since it’s only in times of affliction that we can truly build our faith.
And don’t feel badly if you don’t get an answer to your cry for help right away, because even Jesus on the cross, when He cried out in serious affliction, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matt.27:46) You’ll notice He did not get an answer. So if Christ can cry out for an answer in such a serious situation and get none, who are we to complain when we don’t get any, especially when many of our cries are really petty, selfish outbursts. And it’s interesting to note, that the same cry that Jesus used on the cross is the same one that Bruh David began this psalm with: ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring (groaning).’ (Ps.22:1)
There again, if Bruh David, God’s friend and a man after His own heart can cry out for help and receive no answer, who are we to make a fuss eh? Yeh people, Bruh David was certainly between a rock and a hard place with enemies all around, and obviously felt forsaken by God, when he wrote: ‘O my God. I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.’ (Ps.22:2) Many of us can identify with that, but here’s why Bruh David earned the Lord’s mercy and friendship. ‘But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded (ashamed).’ (Ps.22:3-5))
Yeh friends, Bruh David never forgot the goodness of God to his forefathers, and rightly reasoned that if He helped them, He would also help him. So much so that later on in the psalm, he sincerely declares: ‘Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me (answered me) from the horns of the unicorns (from the horns of the wild oxen). I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.’ (Ps.22:21-22) Oh my people, can we make such a bold declaration based on the many good things the Lord has already done for us?
Unfortunately, many of us are still ashamed of the Lord and refuse to acknowledge Him in public, but please remember Jesus’ words: ‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.10:32-33) As always, Jesus puts it plainly and to the point. If you can’t acknowledge Him in public, He won’t acknowledge you before his Father. That means you can’t be a secret Christian in our free religious society!
So for those of us who are not ashamed to acknowledge Jesus in public, let’s go home declaring our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our wonderful position in Him. In strong, sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ And if we continue steadfastly in that role, then the future will indeed be glorious; much more than we can ask or imagine! Much LOVE!
…if you truly LOVE Jesus…then you must shout it…from the mountain tops…
16 Oct 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a lamp unto my feet, a light, acclamations, bind them, boost our spirits, Chinese food, christ jesus, empty, enlightening the eyes, eyes fixed straight ahead, fear, glad to be alive, God will supply all my needs, hands on the plough, his riches in glory, judgments of the Lord, keep our faith strong, keep thee, lack of fuel, me and my house, middle frame, more desirable than gold, not looking back, perfect, rejoices the heart, rejoicing the heart, restoring the soul, reverential awe, reward, running low, saints in Christ, stalling, sweeter than honey, tak with thee, Thanksgiving celebrations, the breath of life, the hump, the law of the Lord, this the day the Lord has made, thy word, unto my path, warned, we will follow the Lord, we will rejoice and be glad in it, Wednesday Wail
Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
So it’s the middle frame of the week, or what you call the hump – and I’m still in J.A, enjoying some warmth and sunshine. (smile) I didn’t do much yesterday, mostly rest. A couple of friends dropped by, then we went out in the evening and had some Chinese food. But I know that some of you in chilly Canada are still recovering from all of the hectic Thanksgiving celebrations, and are just dying for Friday to come. But hang in there, it will be here much sooner than you know.
In the meantime, keep giving thanks and acknowledging the Lord’s goodness in acclamations, like: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, we WILL rejoice and be glad in it.’ ‘God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.’ ‘As for me and my house, we WILL follow the Lord.’ ‘Something good is going to happen TO me today. Something good is going to happen THROUGH me today!’
Yes friends, acclamations of scripture keep our faith strong, keep us going, especially when we don’t have time to get into serious prayer. Those li’l reminders of God’s everlasting goodness and mercy boost our spirits when our spiritual fuel is running low, and keep us from getting down to empty and stalling for lack of fuel. How wonderful is the Lord’s Word! The psalmist said it best: ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’
How marvellous! The Lord’s Word shines a light on the path we ought to tread and guides our feet therein! Give Him some thanks and praise my people, for being such a wonderful God and Father to us rebellious children of men! How could we believe anything else but that He LOVES us eh? It’s only LOVE that causes Him to care for and consider our frail bodies and souls the way He does.
And re the Lord’s Word, I like how Cousin Sol talks about it in his warning against adultery. ‘My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart (mind), and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.’ (Prov.6:20-23)
Oh my precious saints in Christ, isn’t that just wonderful? The Word of God is all powerful! It leads you on your life journey, keeps you when you’re asleep, and talks with you when you awaken! Mama Yo! It’s so full of everything that we need to do life in a righteous and godly manner; like a lamp giving light to show the way, as well as the instructions and consequences of staying on the path on which it leads us.
And if that doesn’t convince you, then listen to Bruh David from Psalm 19 – The creation and covenants of God. ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear (reverential awe) of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and (the drippings of) the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.’ (Ps.19:7-11)
Ah friends, I ask again, how wonderful is the Lord’s Word eh? It is perfect, restores the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, it’s clean and endures forever. But yuh know what? It’s also more desirable than gold, and even sweeter than honey! Brother! Then it warns you and gets you rewards for keeping it! How then can there be anything better in the universe than the Word of the Law then eh mih breddren? Impossible! Because the Lord’s Word is a one-stop shop; there you can get EVERYTHING you need for living this earthly life in a righteous and godly manner. So please, let’s go shop there nuh, for that’s wisdom of the highest order!
And for those of us who already favour that establishment, let’s go home now declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our steadfast position in Christ Jesus. As one now, in all sincerity: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
So let’s keep that up nuh, for if we do, the future will be even more glorious than we can ever imagine! Much LOVE!
…the Lord’s Word…all we ever need in this life…
25 Sep 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, a horse of a different colour, all ye that labour, believe on me, bread form heaven, casting all your care upon him, come out fighting for Jesus, come to our senses, come unto me, complaining, damnation, die on the cross, eternal death, evil enemy, focusing on, foolishness, for he careth for you, gentle in heart, going to hell, gospel truth, halfway home, hardhearted, having a better life with Christ, heavy laden, humble yourselves therefore, I am meek, I am the bread of life, I will give you rest, in a handbasket, in due time, in the desert, intrude in our affairs, Israelites, learn of me, life is a problem, manna, may exalt you, Moses, my burden is light, my hands are fixed, my yoke is easy, not looking back, ole hypocrites, problems, sacrifice, saints of Christ, securely on the plough, shall never hunger, shall never thirst, stubborn, stupidity, take my yoke upon you, the breath of life, the great invitation, the greatest offer, the trash heap, to pay for our sins, under the mighty hand of god, unto your souls, wake up, Wednesday Wail, ye shall find rest
John 11:28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Well hello there you beautiful saints of Christ! How goes it this Wednesday morning eh? Hope it all goes well. (smile) Yeh, I know some of you are steupsing and complaining because something, or someone is causing problems in your lives. But what yuh going to do eh? It’s just life! Life in itself is oftimes a problem.
No one said it would be easy or not be problem filled, but as believers in Christ Jesus, we do have the greatest problem solver the world has ever seen! Bless His holy name my people! And He’s invited us to bring ALL our problems to Him, lay them at His feet and He will resolve them, in His own time.
Listen to Him nuh, listen to this Great Invitation, that NO ONE else has ever deigned to offer, or can ever deign to offer because no one else has the parts to do those things, NONE but Jesus Christ! ‘Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble): and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt.11:28-30)
Oh my brethren, what’s there not to understand eh? That’s one of the greatest, if not the greatest offer ever made to mankind! But we’re so stubborn and hardhearted, we either don’t believe or are reluctant to let our problems go to some invisible spiritual Being. Peter said it best. ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ (1 Pet.5:6-7)
Oh friends, that’s gospel truth! How could you ever doubt that Jesus cares for you when He made such a sacrifice on your behalf eh? Why else would He come down from heaven and die on the cross to pay for your sins and mine if He didn’t care? None of us would do anything like that unless we cared for somebody or something! So refusing to take Him up on His most wonderful offer is just pure foolishness and stupidly on our part.
We’re allowing the sinful and evil enemy to intrude in our affairs and keep us from having a better life with Christ. That’s not wisdom is it? I very much doubt it! Listen to Jesus again as He pleads with us to come to Him. I wonder why He’s pleading so much with us, if He doesn’t sincerely care eh? The foolish Israelites refused to believe Him despite all the signs and wonders that He did, and the truth He spoke.
Hear them nuh: ‘Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ (John 6:31) And the sad part is that their forefathers didn’t even appreciate the manna, but complained about it because it was plain tasting and didn’t taste like their food back in Egypt. The ole hypocrites and them!
‘Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven: but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then they said unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.’ (John 6:32-34)
Yuh see friends, like so many of us today, they weren’t interested in the spiritual side of life, but merely wanted the material aspects, like real bread to eat. But Jesus didn’t come to just give them belly-filling victuals for ever, but spiritual food for their souls. ‘And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh unto me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.’ (John 6:35)
Yes friends, Jesus is the giver of life! As the scholars explain: ‘6:35. I am the bread of life means the bread that gives life. The life of which He speaks is spiritual and eternal.’ The fact of the matter is that Jesus also gives and takes physical life! So anyhow you shake it He is the one who controls ALL life!
So why are we so reluctant to accept and follow Him eh? I really don’t know. But we quick to follow the foolish Satan, who gives nothing but eternal death and damnation! We LOVE the glitzy, glamourous things he flashes in front of us, but they have no substance and are soon thrown in the trash heap. Oh my people, let’s wake up nuh, let’s come to our senses and see that Jesus is the ONLY wise and sensible way to go!
Just look at how our world is going to hell in a handbasket under the evil rule of the enemy nuh. Is that what we want for our children and grand-children? Certainly not! So please, please, let’s wake up and come out fighting for Jesus, for our children’s sake! That’s the ONLY way we will ever improve our world and defeat the enemy!
Now for those of us who have indeed received the message and taken it to heart, let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know of our unchangeable position in Christ Jesus. In strong voice, with sincere hearts: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if you truly believe, then you will know that that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Much LOVE!
…to refuse Satan’s invitation is one thing…to refuse Jesus’…that’s a horse of an entirely different colour…
18 Sep 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: Achilles heel, Air France, all his works, an able somebody, asaph, but god is the strength of my heart, Cape Town, Dyner Restaurant, hands on the plough, hump day, I have put my trust, I may declare, in the Lord God, it is good for me, Joburg, lean not on your own understanding, looking forward, my flesh and my heart faileth, my portion for ever, narrow aisle, not looking back, packed like sardines, physical trials, rear end, relaxing feeling, relieve the pressure, Robben Island, Table Mountain, tax refund, ten-hour flight, the breath of life, the joints crying out, the Lord looks after his own, to a glorious future with Christ, to draw near to God, trust in the Lord, Wednesday Wail, wheelchair, with all thine heart, with the Lord's help, wonder of wonders
Psalm 73:26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength (rock) of my heart, and my portion for ever.
And after Tuesday comes Wednesday – the hump day of the week! And what a hump that was to climb. We left the hotel in Cape Town around eleven in a taxi headed for the airport to catch a one o’clock flight to Joburg, to catch connecting flights to Atlanta and Paris. Due to some unforeseen circumstances the duchess and I were booked on separate flights back home.
We got to Cape Town Airport where the nonsense began; I was forced to walk to the gates because they said I was not booked for a wheelchair. The porter who accompanied us didn’t tell us that until we were almost at the security entrance, otherwise I would have argued with the lady, because I’ve been travelling to and from the gates by wheel chair ever since my trip began.
But the Lord is good and watches over His people. Thankfully these gates were not as far as some of the others, and I managed it…with the Lord’s help of course. We got on board the Mango Airways flight and took off for Joburg on time; the flight out two days earlier had been delayed for over an hour.
And it’s in Joburg the fun began. Hn! For some reason although Air France is an international airline, its dispatch office is located in the Domestic Section of the airport. So after checking my luggage in the Domestic Section, I had the long trek over to the International section to actually catch the flight. And as always, the Lord looks after His own. I had a wonderful African lady pushing me by wheelchair.
Now this walk, I just would not have been able to make because the joints were already crying out from the traipsing around I did the previous day on Robben Island and Table Mountain. We went up and down and all around, with the poor, tired duchess pushing a trolley with her luggage, as her Delta Airline was ensconced in the International section. Finally she checked her luggage, then we went through security, which though crowded, wasn’t too bad, definitely not as invasive as some of the others around the world.
She then wandered down to one side to collect some tax refund for something she’d bought in South Africa, while the lady pushed me in the other direction, towards the boarding gates. She finally left me at a restaurant aptly named the Dyner, where the duchess would later meet me. I made sure I got a seat right at the front of the restaurant so I could see her, or she me, when she came up. And as my flight was earlier than hers, I ordered a juicy hamburger and vanilla ice cream milkshake.
Remember this was our first meal of the day. By the time the duchess arrived, I was well into my meal. She was none too happy though for the line to get the tax return had been pretty long and what she actually got back didn’t seem worth the wait. And wonder of wonders, before I could even finish my meal, a young fellow showed up with a wheelchair to take me to the boarding gate, which was still some distance away. But like the gentleman he was, he waited for me to finish.
I kissed the duchess goodbye, then we headed for the boarding gate. Brother! I don’t know why these airports have such long distances between where you enter and exit nuh. The problem is that the airports nowadays are simply too large, and if you’re not a young, or rather an able somebody, you’re in trouble to get from one point to the other. We eventually got to the gate where the wheelchair bound were loaded on to a bus and driven out to the plane on the tarmac. The other passengers were also driven out by bus to the plane which was a good distance away from the departure gate.
Then the herding began: we were packed like sardines into the last two sections of the large plane. There were ten seats across; three on the right, three on the left, and four in the middle. The aisle space was so narrow that my hand luggage could not be wheeled down the aisle, but had to be carried. It’s a good thing one of the stewards offered to take it for me. Now Air France is okay, but I still prefer KLM. It just has a more relaxing feeling to it, and the stewards seem friendlier.
But I really can’t complain because the Air France people treated me well. When they began serving the meals, I asked this one lady if she could serve me last because I had just had a big meal at the airport. Her reply certainly surprised me. Although it wasn’t their normal procedure, she would do it because I was such a nice man! Yuh see people, the ole fella’s not as bad as some of you think! (smile)
It took a li’l while for her to come back with my meal, and one older lady next to me kept saying that the stewardess had forgotten me, but I assured her that she had not. And after all the cleaning up had been done, she did come back with my meal. My Achilles heel though throughout the ten-hour flight to Paris was my rear end. Brother! Did it ever hurt from all the sitting down; starting with the two hour plane ride from Cape Town, then the long ride in the wheelchair, and a further ten hours of sitting to Paris!
And surprisingly a white, older gentleman sitting next to me did not get up during the entire flight, not even to go to the bathroom. He just sat there watching Lady Gaga, then Bono, then slept like a baby, and got up to watch more videos, while I kept getting up and walking around just to relieve the pressure on my rear end. (smile)
However, the ole fella did make it through the flight. It wasn’t easy. But here’s why? As Asaph the psalmist said so wisely, so long ago: ‘My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength (rock) of my heart, and my portion for ever.’ Yes friends, without the Lord’s help, I certainly could not have made it through all the physical trials of this trip.
That’s why as Asaph also advised. ‘But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.’ (Ps.73:28) And if you’ve also done that, then it’s time for us to go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the world know our position in Christ Jesus.
In strong voice with sincere hearts: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And what a glorious future it will indeed be! Much LOVE!
…trust in the Lord…with all thine heart…and lean not unto thine own understanding… (Prov.3:5)
04 Sep 2019
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a glorious future with Jesus, Abraham Isaac and Jacob, and is, and is to come, believe the promise, beside me, bless the Lord, by your will, cast their crowns, constant joy in heaven, creating the world, day and night, fear ye not, folly, for thy pleasure, full of eyes, god the father, God the son, halfway home, his redeemer, His word is truth, holy holy holy, I am the first, I am the last, I'll worship, joy, looking forward to, lord god almighty, merriment, my hands on the plough, my witnesses, neither be afraid, not looking back, oh my soul, one true God, praises, rest not, saving the world, selfish, setting the stage, sing like never before, stingy, the breath of life, the four and twenty elders, the four beasts, the Good Book, the king of Israel, the Lord of hosts, the One and Only One, the oneness of God, there is no god, they exist, thou art worthy O lord, thou hast created all things, thus saith the Lord, to receive glory and honour, truth, undeniable statement, wake up, Wednesday Wail, which was, worship him that liveth forever, worship his holy name, worship something inanimate, Yahweh, your holy name
Isaiah 44:6. Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Ah mih people, I woke up joyfully singing it this morning, even though I did not get much sleep, so I took it as a sign that we should open with some of it. (smile) So please sing with me: ‘Bless the Lord oh my soul, Oh my soul, Worship His holy name. Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I’ll worship Your holy name.’
One more time, cause when it’s so nice, you’ve got to sing it twice. (smile) ‘Bless the Lord oh my soul, Oh my soul, Worship His holy name. Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I’ll worship Your holy name.’ And yes friends, that’s exactly what we should all be doing, or have already done, this glorious Wednesday morning that the Lord has so graciously seen fit to allow us to see.
Bless His holy name my people! Bless and exalt it because He is the ONE and ONLY ONE! He said so Himself in His Word, through His prophet Isaiah, and He does not lie; His Word is truth; the ultimate truth!
Listen to His awesome Word and let your hearts be set free by its amazing truth: ‘Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.’ Mamacita! What a powerful, factual and undeniable statement that is my believing brethren!
And the scholars explain that thus: ‘44:6. In verse 6 the prophet emphasizes the oneness of God by stating that beside me there is no God. Yet at the same time, the prophet distinguishes between the Lord the King of Israel and his redeemer the Lord of hosts. The personal name ‘Yahweh’ is used of both the King and His redeemer, the one referring to God the Father and the other referring to God the Son.’
We can see that even way back then the Lord was setting the stage for coming of His most wonderful Son! And believe me, there’s no better stage manager in all the world than the Lord our God. You just have to read the Good Book and see how He set up everything right to the nth degree from creating the world to saving it!
But getting back to the Lord being the ONE and ONLY GOD, He continues to make His point, reasoning thus: ‘And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, (who can proclaim it? Then let him declare it), and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them.
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.’ (Is.44:7-8)
Oh friends, I don’t know of any other nuh! (smile) They are a lot of pretend ones, but they have no power whatsoever. And how can a man bow down and worship something inanimate that he’s made with his own two hands eh?
And even if you worship the wind, the birds, the sun, the moon, the stars or some other aspect of creation, like you, they were created by the ONE TRUE GOD; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and none of them can do anything on their own, their apparent power is all wrapped up in what the Lord, the King of Israel gave and still gives to them!
So worshipping any other supposed God is pure folly! And as the Father said it to, and through Isaiah, so did the Son, Jesus Christ, say it to His beloved disciple, John in his vision on the island of Patmos, where he was exiled. ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.’ (Rev.1:8)
And even around God’s throne everlasting praises are being sung spelling out His might and majesty and holiness. ‘And the four beasts had each of them six wings about them; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest (cease) not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.’ (Rev.4:8) Oh my people, heaven is constantly ringing with the Lord’s praises!
As John writes: ‘And when those beasts (living creatures) give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (by your will they exist).’ (Rev.4:9-11)
Can you imagine that scene mih breddren? A rainbow around the throne of heaven, with the Lord sitting there looking as beautiful as ever, and thunder and lightning, and the beasts singing and the elders worshipping…pure merriment mih people!
So if they can sing the Father’s praises so continuously in heaven, why can’t we lesser mortals sing His praises some too down here on earth eh? Why are we so stingy with giving Him His rightfully deserved praise eh?
Because we are selfish and don’t truly believe that He is who He says He is. But that will only lead to our eventual chagrin my friends. So please, let’s wake up and smell the roses, or the coffee, or whatever will open our eyes, minds and souls to the reality that the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD in this wonderful universe He created!
And having settled that, (smile) let’s go home declaring (steups!) our Wednesday Wail, letting all and sundry know our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. All together now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And if you sincerely believe it, then please stick steadfastly with it, because one day, we too shall be singing and worshipping the Lord in heaven! Much LOVE!
…our human minds are too small…to fully comprehend…the constant joy in heaven…but if we believe the promise…one day we surely will…
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